Article catcher for sorting machine



March 4, 1958 D, Q COX 2,825,456

ARTICLE CATCHER FOR SORTING MACHINE March 4, 1958 D. c. cox 2,825,456

ARTICLE CATCHER FOR SORTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8.. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. PA V/D C. COX

BY P/CHEX/m ms; 29669 ro @MFA/NNY ATTORNEYS March 4, 1958 D. c. cox

ARTICLE cATcHER FOR soRTING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Jan. 8, 1953 OGOOOGGGOGOHLO,

wmv MW INVENTOR. DA VID 1 cox Pfc/715g J @im 46. M

A fO/ENE YS' March 4, 1958 D. cjcox ARTICLE 'CATCHER FOR soRTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 8, 1953 CAR/45e Mowvs 60 loo lm 460 /80 200220240 v Deeegss INVEN TOR. DAV/D 6. cox

il@ @MMM A Troie/V5 Y ARTiCLE CATCHER FR SRHNQ lvACi-iihl David C. Cox, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignorto Industries, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Application January S, 1953, Serial Nrn 339,23

' 15 Claims. (Qi. .W9-71?;

All object of the invention is to sort articles such as fruit by photoelectric inspection While the fruit is falling freely and to accomplish the inspection and subsequently assort the fruit without inflicting bruises upon the fruit.

An object of the invention is to catch articles which have been inspected while the articles are falling freely and to deposit them upon a conveyor without damage to the articles.

lAnother object of the invention is to catch articles which are falling freely by means of a catcher which is traveling at substantially the same speed as the article at the time it is caught and which then rapidly decelerates prior to transferring the article to a conveyor.

A still further object of the invention is to correlate the article release, catching and conveying operations of a sorting machine of the type with which the invention is concerned, so that each operation is successively performed at precisely timed intervals.

There are described in U. S. patent applications, Serial Nos. 294,427 and 265,862, tiled June 19, 1952, and January 4, 1952, respectively, by D. C. Cox, novel methods and apparatus for inspecting fruit and the like according to the surface characteristics of each specimen such as, for example, by color. The fruit is inspected `by'a photoelectric system which illuminates each specimen and directs the reflected light upon a photoelectric cell. The variations -in photoelectric current due to the variations in color, etc. are then utilized to control various diverter gates or the like for separating the specimens into difierent grades, each grade corresponding to a level of response from the photoelectric cell.

The features and advantages of such a sorting method and apparatus are determined largely -by the fact that the fruit is illuminated while the fruit isrfalling freely in air and out of contact with supporting elements of anykind. The entire surface of each specimen of fruit can, therefore, be Scanned and every variation in color and every blemish or fault on the surface of the specimen affects the photoelectric cell.

It is requisite in the successful operation of the apparatus described above that the specimens of fruit be han- Further, it is necessary that whatever method be adopted for the catching of such specimens, it be operable at high Speeds and at precisely timed intervals in order that the practical advantages of an automatic. photoelectric sorting system may be utilized.

The present invention is concerned with a novel method of an-d apparatus for accomplishing the above-referenced objects and accomplishing the afore-mentioned desirable purposes and results. Particularly, in accordanceA with the present invention,l there is provided :a catcher which is adapted to receive and hold the specimens of fruit as they leave the inspecting head while the catcher is. traveling at a speed substantially equal to lthat of the specimen.

The catcher comprises a novel arrangement incorporatingtwo cantilever arms which are ,pivoted about a suspension so that a pan at the end of the arms travels along an arcuate path which extends between the lower estremi-ty of the. inspection head and a point directly above a conveyor which is utilized to carry away the successive specimens of fruit after inspection. The cantilever arms are reciprocated by rotating cams which engage the arms at al pointA intermediate the ends of the arms. The cams are particularly shaped so as to produce the necessary velocities and accelerations at the end of the arms carrying the pan. The cams are driven in synchronism with the gate or other release means associated with the inspecting head and in synchronism with the conveyor upon which the specimens are dropped so that all necessary operations are performed in the correct sequence and at properly timed intervals for each specimeninspected.

Further objects, features. and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from a consideration of the following detailed specification and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the sorting machine of the invention and illustrating particularly the relation of the catcher of the invention to the inspection head and the conveyor' of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of theV catcher;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe catcher;

Fig. 4l is a side view of a portion of the conveyor and showing particularly the conveyor pan support and detent mechanism therefor;

Fig. 5 is a representation of a front elevation view of the drive mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a contour diagram `of the catcher arm and showing particularly the points of inflection of the cam surfaces.

Referring now to Fig. l,y the. Sorting machine of the invention comprises an inspection head 10 which includes a photoelectric inspection apparatus; Va vrelease mechanism 11 for dropping specimens of fruit at timed intervals; fa catcher mechanism 1 2 for catching the specimens after they leave the inspection head; a conveyor 13 for receiving the specimens from the catcher 12 and conveying them to an .assorting apparatus which forms a part of the machine; and a drive apparatus 14 including an electric motor 15.

The sorting machine is constructed with a frame 16 including upright members 17 and cross members 18, 19 and 2t). The inspection head 10 is suitably mounted upon and supported by the cross members V18. The inspection head 10 comprises a housing 21, lamp mountings 22 and an enclosure 23 for arphotoelectric cell. The inspection head has an opening vertically through the housing which serves as a passage for the specimens of fruit. A ,numb-er of background elements 24 are utilized toA provide a basis of comparison for light reflected from the specimens and.

patented Mar. 4, 195s.

YandV 54VY in'` opposite directions. Y

members. Y

The release mechanism 11, is mounted at the top of the housing 21 and serves to` drop the specimens of fruit` into the vertical openingV at timed intervals. TheA release mechanism KVKcomprises' twoV gate members which are mounted upon and rotated by two shafts 26'and Y27 drlven byja cam 28. The release mechanism and its Yassociated drive mechanism'are illustratedrand described in detail in my copending application, Serial No.7326,49:6, Ytiled December 17, 1.952.V The drive mechanism including the cam for V*operating the gateV members constitutes one a drive ring l25V controls the position of the background Y Y 4` A 64 which extends betweena pin 65 carried by the pinion 61 and an adjustable tension member 66; Y Y

The pan members 47V and 48 are heldin a closed position by a detent spring 66A, carrying a rectangular dog 65B which engages the shoulder 67 of the detent member 62. As is set forth in the description of the operation of therapparatus, the detent spring engages a fixed trip block 68 carried by-the upright member 46to release the detent Vand to cause'the pan members .47 and48 torotateinto an open position.l The pan members are closed by. en-

f gagenrent of the actuator arm 63 withra similar fixed tripaspect of the present invention as Ydescribed hereinbelow.

The catcher Y12 receives the specimensof fruit after they Y have fallen through-the vertical opening of the inspection Y head and deposits them upon therconveyor 13. Itl will be recognized that; after-theY specimen of fruitleaves the inspection head, itV is'falling at a substantial 'speed and,

block 69. Upon rotation of the actuator arm, Vthe detentY spring 66 engages the shoulder 67. Y Y

lhe conveyor 13 includes a numberl .ofcarriers'lo' :f which carry the specimens of fruit from the catcher :to

an assorting mechanism which formsa part of the sorting machine. The carriers 70 are securedzto'and moved if'it were allowedto fall directly into a'conveyor withoutY some provision for reducing the speed of fall, it would j bebruised or Yotherwise damaged.' The-catcher-lZ-isso designed'and eonstructed'that'a--holder 29Y is moved ata vspeed 'substantiallyY equal to that of the specimen ofv fruit at the'time the fruit is received inthe holderandjthen' rapidly decelerated to a substantially rest'position before droppingthe-fruit into Ythe conveyor 13.

oy two endless conveyor chains'71 and 72 whichY pass over two sprocket wheels 73 and 74. The sprocket wheels?V Band 74 are mounted for rotation upon a shaft 75'vvhich is supportedby bearings 76 .upon the lower cross mem-S 'Y bers 24B. As shown in Fig.` 5, the conveyor'chains Yare driven in synchronismwith the drive mechanism for the catcher and releaseA mechanism.

^ The catcher 12 includes two'mountingv member'spvr()V V which are supported by the upright' members 17 ofthe frame. Y Two bearings'3'1,rattached to the members 30 at the rear thereof, serveV to support a shaft 32- which,fin turn, :supports the'extremity of arm means-compressing two cantilever arms 33 and 34. YThe cantileveraarms 33 and 34 pivot freely upon the-shaft 32 so that the holder 29'Y movesV along Y,an arc extending from a point just below`Y the inspection head 10 to a point adjacent the conveyor '13. The cantilever arms are moved along this' path by two cams 35and 36 which are mounted upon a shaft 37. The shaft37 is supported from the mounting member by two bearings v38and is .dr'ivenbyV themotor 15 through a gear mechanism. AThe cam surfaces engagerollers 39 and 40V which are mounteduponl andV rotate freely upon Y* a. shaft V41 extending transversely'through the cantilever arms 33 and 34.` Collars 42 .engage the cantilever arms so that thetshaftl V41 serves as a spacer. .Two springs 43 and 44 extend between the endsof the shaft 41' andtwo upright members 45 and 46 to maintainthe rollers 39 and 40 inengagement with thesurfa'ces of the cams while the cams are rotating. VThesprings 43 and 44 must, of course, Y

exert .sufficient tension so that the inertia eleets 'due to the mass of thel armsareovercome during periods. of

deceleration.

Thecams are so shaped thatithe holder 29isftraveling at .an'optimumvelocity at the time'of receiving the fruit and Tis then rapidlydecelerated at a 'substantially rest positiona'Acontour diagram for Ythe -camisshown'inr f Fig. 6 with the important points indicated thereon.

V'Therholder 29 comprises two generallyarcuate pan members-47 and 48 which are mounted upon and sup ported Yby the cantilever arms 33 and 34. The ends of the pan member 47 are secured tolshaftsA 49 and 50 which rotate in bushingsSl andrr52 mounted on the arms 33 and 34.! T he ends of pan member 48 arecorrespondingly supported by shafts Y53 and 54, which rotate in bushings 55 and 56. The shafts 50 and 54 carry two-pinion gears 4 57 and 58k and are further supported by arbearin'g mem- Vber 59 which is spacedfromV the cantileverv arm 34. VA Y shaft l-supports'a` thirdpinion 61 between the memberV 59'and'the'farm'34. and carriesa detent 62and an 'actuatlr ingv arm`63'at. the outer extremity of thesllaft.-Y The panV members V4,'lfai1d 48 are'actuated by rotation of the pinion" 58 andthe shafts 7 671g whichdrives the ,pinions 57 and The pinion 61 is operated so Aas to hold Vthe pan member-S7747Y and 48 in a normallyiopenlposition by a spring;

VvThe construction and operationof the co'rn'reryorisjde-VY scribed in detail in connection withthe assorting'appara- .p tus fof the sorting machine inY my copending application Serial No.` 377,942 tiledv September `l, 1953. `VFor the; purposes of the present application, the carriers are-suf-` ficiently shown in Figs. l and 4 and include two pan mem-1" bers 77 andV 78 which .are mountedfuponY two shafts 7'79;

and Sil so that they may be opened and closed by rotation;

of theshafts. The shaft's`79V and 80V aresupportedfatV their ends byY elongated pieces 815and 82 ,which are,'in .turnarriedbythe two'conveyor'chains 71 and-7r2. `The elongated pieces ofV successive carriers lare interengaged as shown in Fig. 1 to stabilize the*carriersewhileprovidingV the necessary'flexibility for movement in an endless path.

As shown particularly in Fig. 4,'each of thefsh'afts 79 andA 89 carries a square detent member 83 on aniend VwhichV extends beyond the piece 32.V The d'etentmember's'83V areY engaged byrtwo detent springs 84 and 85 which are supported by the elongated ,pie`ce.82. The pan members'77 'Y and 79 are thereby maintained in aV normally closed posi-1 Vother article which is dropped into the pan. v*Under certain ,circumstances,-the' falling articles -niayrbe received directly inthe conveyor pans',` althoughit is preferred@ that thecatcher mechanism'be utilized to accomplish a substantial reduction in speedfof fallibefereftheiarticle contacts the conveyor pansQv 'l Referring now to Fig. '5, the

previously mentioned. 'e ,This motor drives aredujcer mechanism 90'Ywhose .output shaft 91 isY corrr'1`ected`to.Y the drive shaft 37AY of the `catchencamsVv through a suit-Y o able coupling (not shown). YA drive sprocket92mouted upon the shaft 91'isY engagedrbya drive. chain` 93k which passes overa drive sprocket 94 Vof a gear box 95. The L kgear box 95 includesY anjintegraligearing and'.,hasan' outputfshaftY which supports and rotates the' drive cam V28 for the releasemechanism. Y.The gear box 95}alsoincludesoutput'drive shaftsV which are connected toV anddrive the conveyor which feedsthe fruit to the-released mechanism and the ring drive for the backgroundV mem?v bers 24, as disclosed 'in thefcopending applicationslre-l ferred to. The sprocketwheel 73 Vforjthe conveyor 13.1 is`drfven from the sprocket 96V by a"chain-.9 7 anda'y sprocket .96byfa chain 97l anda sprocket`98.`v The'- A similar-lever is utilizedtorotatenpan Vofthe conveyor pans andV-thefass'oidrive mechanism {for'lthe- Y' apparatus of the invention includes a drive motorlS asY sprocket-98 is mounted upon the shaftpTS and suitably coupled-to; the sprocket wheel It will be understood that by the employment of'the cam drives herein shown, very advantageous results may be obtained in that the drive motor may operate continuously at a uniform speed, and all theoperations performed by the various components of the machine may be adjusted to operate at anyrpredetermined rate and with the necessary time intervals between the successive operations.

vIn operation, the release mechanism 11 is actuated by the cam 28 so as to drop the specimen of fruit through the inspection head. Asthe specimen leaves the lower extremity of the housing of the inspection head, it falls into the holder 2g of the catcher which at that time is moving downwardly from the upper extremity of its arc of travel at a speed substantially equal to that with which the specimen is traveling. As the holder movesdownward along its are of travel, the catcher arms move at a speed which is reduced rapidly by reason of the form of the contours of the 4catcher cams 35 and. Asthe holder 29 reaches the lower extremity of its-arc of travel at a point directly above the conveyor, it comes vto rest and is allowed to remain in that position brieiiy by reason of the dwell portion of the cams (Fig. 6). At that time,

a carrier 70 is positioned below the holder 29v which is opened by the spring 64 after the detent spring 66A is released by the iixed trip block 68 as the arms 33 and 34 reach the lowermost position in their travel. The fruit is then dropped into the `carrier and carried to the assorter. As the drive cams and 36 continue to rotate, the catcher arms are forced upward and the holder 29 moves toward the upper extremity of its Varc of travel. The pan members 47 and 48 are closed during the upward movement of the arms by engagement of the actuator 63 with the upper fixed block 69. By this time, another specimen of fruit has been deposited in the release mechanism and the entire process is repeated.

This application is a continuation-impart of application, Serial No. 294,427, tiled June 19, 1952, by D. C.

while the article is falling freely, the combination of a release mechanism adapted to hold an article and to drop the article upon actuation thereof, catcher means with a mechanism for 4moving it in the path of fall of the object said catcher being adapted to receive the object while moving at a speed approximating that of the object and then decelerate to a substantially rest position, and drive means for actuating the said release mechanism and the said catcher moving mechanism in synchronism.

2. In a sorting machine adapted to inspect an article while the article is falling freely, the combination of a release mechanism comprising at least one gate member and a rotating cam for actuating the gate member to drop the article, catcher means below the gate member adapted to move in the path of fall of the article and to receive the article while moving at a speed approximating that of the article and then bring the article to a substantially rest position and comprising an article holder, arm means, fixed support means upon which the arm means is pivoted at one end thereof and the holder being carried at the remaining endl of the arm means, drive means for reciprocating the yarm ymeans comprising a rotating cam operatively engaging the arm `means intermediate the ends thereof, and drive means vfor the said release mechanism and lthe said catcher means in- 6 cluding a motor and transmission means interconnecting the motor and thel said cams, so connected that the catcher means makes one stroke for each operation of the release mechanism and is in downward travel at constant velocity after the release mechanism has operated to drop an article thereon.

3. In a sorting machine, the combination of a release mechanism comprising at least one gate member and a rotating cam for actuating the gate member to drop the article, the said cam having a substantially uniform contour around the greater part of the circumference thereof and an actuating contour along a relatively small part of the ycircumference thereof for intermittently operating the gate member, catcher means below the gate member adapted to move in a path of fall of the article and to receive the article comprising an article holder, arm means, xed support means upon which the arm means is pivoted at one end thereof and the holder being carried at the remaining end of the arm means, drive means for reciprocating the arm means comprising a rotating cam operatively engaging the arm intermediate the ends thereof and-the cam having a contour adapted to Imove the holder ata speed approximating that of the falling article and then rapidly bringing the holder to a substantially rest position, and drive means for the said release mechanism and the said cat-cher means including a lmotor and transmission means positively interconnecting the motor and the said cams, said cams being so mounted with respect to the trans-mission means that the catcher means makes one stroke for each operation of the release mechanism and is in downward travel at constant velocity after the release means has operated to drop an article thereon.

4. In a sorting machine adapted to inspect an article while the article is falling freely, the -combination of a release mechanism adapted to hold an article and to drop the article upon actuation thereof, catcher means with mechanism for moving it in the -path of fall of the article, said catcher being adapted to receive the article while moving at a speed approximating that of the article and then bring the article to a substantially rest position, the said catcher means including an article holder comprising at least one pan member adapted to be rotated to open and close the holder, and means for opening the said holder to release the article as the catcher reaches the rest position.

5. In a sorting machine adapted to inspect an article while the article is falling freely, the combination of a release mechanism adapted to hold an article and to drop the article upon actuation thereof, catcher means below the release mechanism having mechanism for moving it in the path of fall of the article, said catcher being adapted to receive the article while moving at a speed approximating that of the article and then bring the article to a substantially rest position, the said catcher means including an article holder comprising at least one pan member adapted to be rotated to open and close the holder, and means for opening the said holder to release the article as the catcher reaches the rest position comprising a rotary lever operatively connected to the pan member and a trip block adapted to be engaged by the lever.

6. In a sorting machine adapted to inspect an article while the article is falling freeiy, the combination of a release mechanism adapted to hold an article and to drop the article upon` actuation thereof, catcher means with mechanism for lmoving it in the path of fall of the article, said catcher means being adapted to decelerate the article to a substantially rest position, and including article holding means adapted to 'oe opened to release the articles.

7. In a sorting machine adapted to inspect an article While the article is falling freely, the combination of a release mechanism comprising a gate member and a rotating cam for actuating the gate member to drop an articlefcatcher means with Vmechanism for moving it up 4 drop the article into a carrier'asthe catcher V'lowermost position. Y Y

vand down in thepath of'fall ofthe'V article, said catcher 'meansrbeing adapted'to receive the article while moving at alspeed approximating that ofthe article and compris- .positively cnnecting the'said motor to the said catcher Y ycams'andrthe said release mechanism cam, drive means Y for said conveyor-synchronized' with said catcher drive Ymeans to Ybring'ra carrier into positionV under the catcher l means for each cycle of the movement of the VVcatcherl means, and means for opening the said article holder to reaches the S. In Va sorting machine adapted to inspect an article while the article is falling freely, the combination of a release mechanism for intermittently droppingtarticles `and comprising a gate member and a continuously'rotat-V ing cam for actuatingthe gate member, catcher means, cam mechanism for moving the catcher means vertically in the path of fall of the article, said catcher means being adapted to receive eacharticle'while; moving downward at a speed approximating that of'thearticleand com prising'an article holder, anarm, Yiixecl support means adapted to support-'the inspection head, a conveyorjrfor carrying articles Afrom the. inspectionY head toV an Vassortlupon, which the arm is pivoted at one end thereof and theholder being carried at the remaining end'of'the arm, and conveyor Vmeans positioned so asfto move along a path adjacent the lowermost'V position of vfthe 'catcher means -and comprisinga continuously moving v.conveyor chain and a plurality of carriers spaced along'theV conveyor' chain, drive means for the said release mechanism and the /said catcher means comprising a motorfand transmission means positively connecting the said motor to the said catchergcam mechanism and the said :release V mechanism cam, and drive means synchronized'v'v'ith'rtheV catcher cam mechanism' for operating Vthe saidlconveyor to bring a carrier adjacent Vthe lowermost position of the holder'each time'the catcher reaches the lowermost position, and means for opening the said article holder to drop j an article into a carrier as the catcher reaches the lowerf most position.

Y 9. In a sorting machine adapted to inspect an article while the article is falling freely an inspection head which has an opening for the passage of falling articles; a frame adapted to support the inspection head, va conveyor for carrying articles from the inspection head -to an assortl assess and positioned soethat-ithe `carriers mcvwealongvar path directly belowthe opening ofthe inspection head, means interposedbetween `said inspection head fand `the said conveyor .for receiving Vthe articlesy after'they haveffallenl throughY the opening in the'inspectionlhead and `reducing their. speed to substantially zero without damaging'ethe articles-aid drive means'for the said conveyor; j f `11.7In a sortingfmachine adapted to inspecttan article while therarticle-is falling freely an-inspection'headsvhich has an opening for the passage of falling artic1es,aframe ing-apparatus after inspection comprising a conveyor chain carrying a plurality 'of spacedcarr'ier'sand asprgcket Y wheel for the said conveyor chain, the said sprocket wheel beingjmounted upon the frame below the inspection head Y and positioned so :that the carriers move along apaAth' j below the opening of the inspection'head, and means fer catching the a1'ticleswhichjhaveY fallen-through the `inl i spection head -with afcycle of motionH equal in duration to the time for successive `'carriers to Ycome into position l andrdepositing'eacharticle,in aconveyorcarrier; Y l2. An article catcher comprising the combination of arm means, a supportfor said arm means includin'gwa Y.

shaft, one end of said arm means being mountedV upon said shaft so as to pivot about the shaft, an'article holder mounted Vat theremaining end of the armrmeanscomrprising at least-one pan member-and a shaft for-rotating Vth e pan member, thersaid shaftbeing snpportedbythe arm-means, and` actuating meansfor thesaid pan mem-V ber comprising a'rotaryV actuating member, spring means Y engagingjthe actuating mem-ber'for maintaining `the pan Y in a tirst normalpositiom and 'detent means for holding Ythe pan inr'a secondfnormalgposition, and means forlref:

ciprocatng. the said armfmeansae n v 'Y Y 173. An'V article catcher icomnrisingthe combinationlvof arm meansQa support Afor said arm means including a shaft, 'one end of said armmeans being mounted upon I said shaft so as to pivot about the shaft, anarticl'eholder ing apparatus after inspection comprising a conveyor chainV carryinga plurality of spaced carriers anda sprocket VWheel for the said conveyor chain, the 'said sprocket wheel being mounted upon the frame belowthe Vinspection head and positioned so that the carriers move along apathdirectly below the opening 'of the inspection head, and means for catching articles which have,l passedV through the inspectionhead including a holder adapted toY be Vreleased'tojdeposit an article in a carrier, Vand car rier means for the said holderV supported by the'said frame and `adapted'to move said holder at a speed substantially vequal to that ofthe article while the holder Tis l moving downward from the inspection head and to bring the holder to a rest position immediately abovethe carrier.

l0. In a sorting machine adapted tovinspect anrarticle Y while the article is falling freely an inspection head which Vhas an opening for the passage of falling articles, a frame adapted to support the inspection head, a conveyor for carrying articles from theinspection'head :to an'assorting apparatus after inspection comprising a conveyor I chain carrying a plurality of spaced carriers and a sprocket Ywheel for the Vsaid conveyor chainthe said sprocket wheel being mounted upon the framebelow the inspection head mounted at the remaining end of'the arm vrneanscornprising at least'one pan member and a shaft for rotating lthe pan member,A the'` said shaft; being supported by the arm and actuating'meansffor the said pan members comprising a rotary'actuating member', a spring means engaging theV actuating'member for maintainingjthe panin a normally open position, and jdetentl means'for holdingthe pan ina closed position, andY means for'reciprocating the`V said arm v means, the said reciprocating means-'comprising@shaft v and a cam upon'theV shaftjopera'tively engaging the said armV means,' the said,v cam;having"a 'portionof increasing radius and al portionj of decreasing radius for increasing f and'decreasing the speed oflmovement of the arm means upon rotationfof the shaft. Y Y .Y v '14.An article Vcatcher comprising theV combination of arm fmeans, asupport'for said` arm means including a Y shaft, Von'eiend Yof said armi meansfbeingmounted upon,

said shaftcso'as to. pivot aboutV the shaft,'an article 4holder mountedatthe remainingend of thearm means com? rising two generally arcuate pan members and shafts `forY rotating the. pan'members supported by the arm fmeans,. and actuatingmeans'for the's'aid pan membersV comprising pinion gears-mountedjupon the Ysaid shafts Yand interenf gaged'foropposing rotations; andan actuating pinion,

spring means engaging the actuating pinion for maintain-VV ingV the pans-in` a Vnormallyopen position, andV `detent means `for holding the Vpans-,in a closed position, and

means forreciprocatingthesaid arm nieans,rthe said reciprocating meanscomprisingg a' s haftand a cam upon the shaft operatively yengaging the said Y armsk means', the said cam having aeportion o f increasing radiusand arportion of t decreasing radiusjfor'increasing and decreasing the speed Votmovement-of thearm'means upon rotation ofthe shaft.

m15. -An article catcher comprising the combination ;of

arm means, a'support for'said armme'ans includingashaft, one end of said arm means being mounted uponsaicl shaft so as to pivot about the shaft, an article holder mounted at the remaining end of the arm means comprising at least one pan member and a shaft for rotating the pan member, the said shaft being supported by the arm means and actuating means for the said pan member comprising a rotary actuating member, spring means engaging the actuating member for maintaining the pan in a normally open position, and detent means for holding the said pan in a closed position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pearson Mar. 21, 1916 Hartrampf et a1 Aug. 14, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 6, 1952 

